Threshold



Jan. 23, 1940. F, w KAMMRER 2,188,049

THRESHOLD Filed May 2e, 1937 2 sheds-sheet 1 lll] 6MM Man F. W, KAMMERER THRESHOLD Jan. 23, 1940.

' Filed May 2e, 1957 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 23, 194() 1 5 UNITED STATI-:s PATENT. otr-ICE 1 n 4.2,188,049

'rnREsHoLD Y Fred W. Kammerer, New York, N. Y. A Application May ze, 1937, serial No. 144,931

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved threshold construction, adapted for use as a door sill, or as a window sill for windows of a particular type. The invention also contemplates certain improved combinations of threshold constructions with windows and doors of unusual types. f

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a threshold comprising interengaging eX- truded metallic sections which may be assembled for relative pivoting movement. The sections may be joined together before their installation on the sill of a door or-window, but, when once assembled and installed, they cannot become separated accidentally..

It is a further object of the invention to provide a threshold or sill construction for vertically sliding windows of the type which extend from a convenient height inthe wall, substantially down to the floor level, and which may be stored in a pocket formed in the wall below the oor level. In this connection, the invention contemplates the provisionfofa pivotally mounted section adapted to be swung fromfa horizontal position, where it serves as a closure for the mouth of the pocket, to a substantially vertical position to give access to the pocket so that the sashes may be placed in or removed from the pocket.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a. novel form of threshold construction, or door saddle, which, in some respects, is an iinprovement on the door saddles describedl and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 70,530, March 23, 1936.

In the accompanying drawings, three embodiments of the invention are disclosed for purposes of illustration, but it must be understood that the invention is not limited to the vdetails of construction shown therein andY described below.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ofa'window construction showing the use of the threshold of the present invention, central sectionsv of the window panels being broken away for economy of space.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a slight modication.

preferred form of joint between the sections of the threshold.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of a modied form of sill orthreshold member,'and fFigure 5 isasimilarview..ofl.the;device of Figure 4, showing the parts in a different position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the threshold comprises a pair of sections or members I0 and II, preferably formed of extruded metal, such as brass, bronze, or" the like. The inner section I0 is formed with a tread portion I2 terminating inwardly in a down-turned marginal flange I3 provided on its undersurface with serrations or the like I4, adapted to grip the oor or other supporting surface adjacent the window opening. The section I0 also comprises a channel section I5 having similar serrations I6 on its undersuriace. The outer wall of the upwardly opening groove or channel I1 is in the form of an upstanding flange I8 terminatsection I0, with a down-turned flange 21 provided with serrations 28 thereon. On the under-' surface of thexsection II, below the jamb por-kv tion 25, there is formed a longitudinally extending, cross-sectionally rounded groove 29, complemental in shape to the bead I9, and embracing slightly more than one-half of the circumference of the bead. Thus, the two sections may be assembled only by relative endwise movement. When they once.. have been assembled, they cannot be separated by relative transverse movement, because the groove 29 is of reentrant form and embraces the bead. f

In rcertain typesI of constructions, it is advantageous to provide 'the fiat portion 26 of the section Il with an upstanding rib or the like 30, to cooperate with a weather strip or groove associated -with a window or door to provide a Weathertight joint, as described below.

As stated above, the threshold of the present invention is particularly adapted-- for use with Figure 3 is an enlarged sectionalview of. a

sliding windows ofthe type that drop down into a pocket formed in the wall of the building, below the window opening. Constructions of this class are often used for windows leading from a house Atoan outside porch. Such an installation kisshown inFigure 1. 'Ihe upper windowby a short web 5E.

panel 35 slides in a vertical slideways 36, which continue down below the bottom edge 3'I of the window opening and merge with a slideways 38 in the wall pocket, represented generally at 39. Likewise, the lower sash or panel [I0 is mounted in a slideways III, which continue downwardly as at l2 in the pocket. The window opening is provided with an exterior screen d5, which may also slide down into the pocket 39.

When it is desired to dispense with the sashes or panels and completely open the window, the lower sash Il@ may be raised somewhat and the section I I or" the threshold swung upwardly, about the bead I9 as a pivoting axis. As shown in Figure 3, the parts are so proportioned that the piv` oted section may be raised to `asubstantiallyvertical position. Thereupon, both the upper and the lower sashes may be dropped downwardly for storage in the pocket 39. When the section II of the threshold is raised, the mouth 45 of the pocket is. uncovered, for this purpose, and, after the panels have been stored, the pivoted section of the threshold is simply swung downwardly to the substantially horizontal position, whereupon the pocket is closed.

The rib-35 projects into a groove 3D formed along the bottom edge of the lower panel 40, to provide a weathertight joint. In the alternative,

`any convenient form of the weather strip may be used to cooperate with this projecting rib.

In Figure 2, the invention is shown as a saddle for swinging doors. In this case, a door is hinged for swinging movement toward and from the closed position shown in the drawings, above the jamb section 25 of the saddle. The flat portion 25 is inclined downwardly and outwardly toward a screen door 5I. 'I'he same type of joint may be used to connect the inner section I2 and the outer section II as in the construction previously described. As an added feature of great utility, I provide an ,edge strip 52, Vadapted to embrace the raw edge 53 ofthe section 23. Such an edge` strip is advantageous because, when thresholds of this type are installed, the workman often cutsr them down, tov diminish their width, by sawing off a marginal portion of the section 26 with a hacksaw. Unless great care vis used, this operation. results in a rough, raw edgeVwhich is not only unsightly, but often results in an uneven fit with the floor. The edge strip 52 isV preferably in the form of a flattened C-section, comprising an upper flange 53 and a lower flange 55, joined Serrations or the like 5l. are

1 provided lon the lower surface of this member, to

resist slippage on the oor. Since the member 54 ts the section 2S quite snugly, it can only be applied and removed by relative movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the flat portion 26. After the sections have been screwed down by wood screws 58 or the like, the edge strip will be held firmly in place because movement in a plane parallel to the flat portion 26 will be impossible by reason of the abutting relation of the floor thereto.

As pointed out lin mycopending application referred to above, a saddle comprising two sections pivoted together is of material advantage to compensate for diiferences in the oor levels adjacent a door sill. Moreover, the pivoting action enables the inclined section 26 to accom- .modate itself Lto different angles of inclination,

which invariably results when the section is cut down or otherwise changed in width. Obviously,

The modified form of sill or threshold member 5 shown in Figures 4 and5 is preferred, for many installations. Since this construction is generally similar to that shown in Figures l and 2, all of its details will not be described, like parts on the modified form being referred to by the same 10 characters as in the first form. *The principal difference resides in the form of the pivotal connection between the sections IU and II. The upstanding ilange, to which the movable section is connected, instead of being made integral with 15 the stationary section, is in the form of a separate metallic strip, pivotally connected to the two sections, therebyv increasing the range of pivoting movement between the sections.

' As'shown in Figure 4, the lower horizontal 20 section I5 of the section` III is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting flanges B, I I shaped to provide therebetween, `a cross-sectionally rounded, re-entrant groove 52. The groove ,-29

formed in the other threshold section is substan- 25 tially the same as the groove29 in Figures 1 and 3, with the exception that its inner walls extend around and form a more restricted mouth.

'Ihe sections If, il are connected together by a metallic strip 63 of special cross-sectional 30 shape having its edgeportions l64, 65 enlarged and cross-sectionally rounded to substantially circular form, as shown inI the drawings. These enlarged, beaded edges arej disposed in thegrooves 29', 52 respectively, the parts being assembled by 35 relativeendwise movement. Because of the reentrantshape of the grooves, and the enlarged form of the beadededgesof the connecting link member 63, the partscannotY be separated by relative transverse movement, but can be assem- 40 bled and taken apart only by relative endwise movement. The member 53 isv preferably made of extrudedmetal section, but, since its cross sectional shape is relatively simple, it ,may be rolled out ofy circular or flat. stock.

. L 245 v The advantage of this form of theinvention is Yillustrated in Figure v4. YThe pivoting movement of themember'vl?. with respect to themember I0 permits the movable section I I s to be swung back to or beyond the verticalline. YThus,vwhen the,50

threshold section I I" is lifted to the position shown in Figure 5, the windows may be moved into and taken out of the pocket 38 with facility, and it is not necessary gior the person"manipulating the windows tofmanually hold thel section II in the', 55

upright position.

The pivoting action of 'they member G3 increases the degree ofswinging movement `of theme'mber i II relative to the section Ill', and makes it possible to construct the 'grooves so that they ernbrace a larger portion of the interengaging, rounded ribs. Therefore, theparts need not fit as closely as in the first form ofthe invention. If

, :the groove formed inthe member II in the'yform shown in Figure 3 is made more reentrant,'the.,65

edges ofthe groove Vwill abut the rib I8 before the section can ybe swung to the verticalposition and this result is undesirable. Y A

Y As stated above, the present invention is not limited to the rdetailsof construction shown and described herein, but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

I claim:

31. Athreshold .construction for Windows and. 75

the like comprising a pair of pivotally connected sections, one of said sections having a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing channel bounded along one edge by a substantially vertically projecting, upstanding flange, said flange being provided at its upper end with an enlarged, crosssectionally rounded head, the other section of said pair comprising an upper, substantially horizontal jamb portion and a downwardly inclined approach portion projecting laterally therefrom and connected integrally therewith, and adapted to underlie the associated door or window, the undersurface of the jamb portion being shaped to form an elongated, downwardly facing, crosssectionally rounded groove, said groove being complemental in shape with and adapted to embrace the head on said flange, said .groove and vsaid head being of such relative size and shape and being so constructed and arranged as to permit the second section to be swung upwardly to lie in a substantially vertical plane disposed laterally from the plane of the associated window.

2. A threshold construction comprising a pair of interengaging metallic sections, one of said sections having a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing channel and an upstanding flange pivoted to said member along one edge of the channel, said flange being formed at its upper end with a cross-sectionally rounded head, the other section of said pair being. provided with a cross-sectionally rounded socket adapted for pivotal connection with said head, said other section being adapted to extend across the lower edge of an associated door or window opening to underlie the closure therein.

3. A threshold construction comprising a plurality of interengaging metallic sections, one of said sections having a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing channel adjacent one edge, a flange pivotally mounted in said channel, said flange having at its up-per end an enlarged, crosssectionally rounded head, and another section having a cross-sectionally rounded socket adapted for pivotal connection with said head, said lastmentioned section being adapted to extend across the lower edge of an associated door or window opening to underlie the closure therein.

4. A threshold construction comprising a pair of interengaging metallic sections linked together, one of said sections having a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing channel, and an upwardly projecting flange associated with said member along one edge of said channel, said flange being formed at its upper end with a cross-sectionally rounded head, the other section of said pair being provided with a crosssectionally rounded socket adapted for pivotal connection with said head, said second section being projected laterally away from the first section and from said connection and being adapted to extend across the lower edge of an associated door or window opening to underlie the closure therein and being provided with an upwardly projecting flange adapted to project into a groove associated with the lower edge of the closure to provide a weather-tight joint.

5. A threshold construction comprising a pair of metallic sections connected together for relative pivotal movement along their adjacent edges, and a metallic finishing edge strip for the opposite edge of one of said sections, said strip comprising a flat C-section having its parallel flanges engaging the upper and lower faces of that section along said edge.

t -3 6. A threshold construction. comprising a pair of metallic sections connected together for relative pivotal movement along their adjacent edges, and a metallic finishing edge strip for the oppo .site edge of one of said sections, said strip comative pivotal movement along their adjacent edges, one of said sections having a flat portion inclined downwardly from the zone of junction with the other section arid terminating in a raw edge, and a ilnishing and supporting strip for said edge, said strip comprising parallel flanges closely embracing the opposite faces of said inclined portion, whereby said strip can be applied to and removed from the section only b-y relative movement in a plane parallel to the faces of said section, and means for securing said sec'- tion in inclined relation to a supporting surface with the strip contacting the surface, said securing means serving to prevent removal of said strip.

8. The combination with a metallic threshold having a flat portion inclined downwardly toward a supporting surface, of a finishing and supporting strip for the lower edge of said portion, said strip comprising parallel flanges closely embracing opposite faces of said inclined portion, whereby said strip can be applied thereto and removed therefrom only by relative movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the faces f said portion, and means for drawing said portion and said strip downwardly toward the supporting surface, whereby said strip is secured in place.

9. In a window frame construction comprising a window opening having Vertical slideways for sliding panels and a pocket in the wall below said opening having continuations of said slideways to facilitate storage of the panels in the pocket, a sill for said opening comprising elongated metallic sections of substantially equal length pivotally connected together, one of said sections being secured to the frame along one edge of the mouth of said pocket and extending entirely across the window opening and the other section being secured substantially throughout its length to the first-mentioned section and being mounted for swinging movement from a substantially horizontal position closing said mouth to a substantially vertical position opening said mouth to give access to said pocket.

10. In a window frame construction comprising a window opening having vertical slideways for sliding panels and a pocket in the wall below said opening having continuations of said slideways to facilitate storage of the panels in the pocket, a sill for said opening comprising metallic sections pivotally connected together, one of said sections being secured along one edge of the mouth of said pocket and comprising an upstanding flange terminating in a cross-sectionally rounded head, the other of said sections extending laterally away from the first section and having, along its adjacent edge, a complemental, cross-sectio-nally rounded socket on its undersurface embracing said head, to permit pivotal movement of the second section from a substantially horizontal position closing the mouth of said pocket to a substantially vertical position giving access thereto.

11. In a window frame construction comprising a window opening having vertical slideways for sliding panels and a pocket in the Wall below said opening having continuations of said slide- Ways to facilitate storage of the panels in the pocket, a sill for said opening comprising interengaging metallic sections, one of said sections being secured along the bottom of the opening adjacent the mouth of said pocket and being provided with an integral cross-sectionally rounded bead extending substantially entirely across the opening, the second section having a cross-sectionally rounded groove of corresponding length embracing said bead throughout more than half of its circumference, whereby said sections may be formed together and separated from interengaging relationship only by relative endwise movement, the second section being swingable from a position closing the mouth to said pocket to a position giving access thereto to permit storage of the panels therein.

12. A sill construction comprising extruded metal sections linked together for relative pivoting movement, said sections being shaped along their adjacent edges to provide elongated grooves, and a connecting element for said sections comprising an elongated metallic strip having rounded portions along its opposite edges adapted to be received in said grooves respectively.

l 13. .Asili construction comprising extruded metal sections linked together for relative pivoting movement, said sections being shaped along their adjacent edges to provide elongated, reentrant, cross-sectionally rounded grooves, and a connecting element for said sections comprising an elongated metallic strip having enlarged, crosssectionally rounded edge portions and a reduced connecting body, said edge portions being received in said re-entrant grooves to prevent separation of the parts by relative transverse movement.

14. A sill construction comprising extruded metal sections adapted to be secured together by relative endwise movement and to resist separation by relative transverse movement, said sections being shaped along their adjacent edges to provide elongated re-entrant, cross-sectionally rounded grooves, and means for connecting said sections together, said means comprising an elongated metallic strip having enlarged, crosssectionally rounded, beaded edge portions and a reducedintermediate body portion, said beaded portions being receivable in said grooves of said sections by relative endvvise movement only.

FRED W. KAMMERER. 

